Monica ~ 547 days

“My sober life, or rather, my real life, began a year and a half ago. Like many in my generation, I went all-in during my 20s. Over time, I became aware of the toll alcohol was taking on my mental and physical health. My “rock bottom” was actually a collection of moments ranging from "oh, boy" to "meh" that accumulated like limescale. I slowly realized alcohol was no longer serving me. Continuing down that path risked letting myself and those I cared about down.

Quitting was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Years of conditioning had tied alcohol to winding down, fun, dinners, clubbing, holidays, weekends, friendships. Letting go meant setting entire villages on fire, and saying goodbye to habits, people, and places. But it was so worth it.

I pulled it through by keeping myself busy and trusting that things would eventually fall into place Today, I’m a fully sober individual, comfortable going out and trying what’s out there in a non-conditioned way.

I don’t feel better than anyone else, but I feel better within myself. I don’t put my sobriety on a pedestal, nor do I preach or force-feed it to others. I simply want to make this option more visible and accessible for those seeking a change.

That’s why I’m building High Sobriety Club Munich, a local community centered on sober living in a city deeply rooted in its beer culture.

Neo-sobriety is slowly gaining traction in Germany, with cities like Hamburg and Berlin leading the way. But Munich still lacks substance when it comes to cool, grown-up sober experiences.

High Sobriety Club Munich, inspired by Arclett's work, aims to fill this gap by advocating for better alcohol-free options in bars and restaurants and showing that socialising doesn’t have to involve booze. The value is in creating a real community, free from the usual expectations around alcohol. and I'm absolutely sure we can do it.”